Houdini Hampshire survive again

posted by John Winn

So when the music stopped it was Middlesex who were left without a seat at the first division table next season. From champions yesterday they were rolled over in fairly short time at Taunton and then endured a five hour wait while the wooden spoonists tried to bowl out Hampshire. Shortly after lunch, when Hampshire lost three quick wickets, their hopes of survival must have been raised but obdurate defence from Vince and Dawson saw Hants almost to safety, safety ensured by Holland and Berg. By 5:
30 Middlesex knew they could look forward to trips to Derby, Chester le Street and Grace Road next year and could rue even more the loss of two points for a slow over rate in the match abandoned when Kennington's answer to William Tell decided to take a hand.

Not only Middlesex could look back and lament that the season had been at the mercy of such narrow margins. Yorkshire who sighed with relief as early as Monday, a sigh so deep it left them without the breath to stand up to the Essex attack on Wednesday afternoon , can look back more than three months to June and their victory by three runs over Somerset, three months in which they have won just one championship match, last week's nerve jangler against Warwickshire. On that Monday afternoon Ballance's persistence with Lyth's spin finally paid off when Jamie Overton miscued to Carver at mid wicket and the white rose men trousered 16 points. If Overton had middled that delivery Yorkshire would have lost and finished the season with 132 points thus keeping the bears company in the bottom two.

Such has been the competition to avoid relegation in the last month that all the sides involved, and third placed Surrey were not safe until last week, could probably point to some turning point, inclement weather, a bad lbw decision, five penalty points for the ball hitting the helmet,etc etc which might have gone for or against them and when two points cover four teams such events can make or mar a season. Thus Hampshire survive again, this year by two points, last year by courtesy of the ECB and in 2105 again by two points. It is nine years since they finished above sixth in Division 1.

In the second division Notts, another 'tomb raider' club, finally overcome their jitters thanks to a partnership between the retiring Chris Read and Root the younger and left Northants in third place. Leicestershire held on to the wooden spoon and Durham handicapped by a 48 point deduction could do little better. The season at The Riverside has seen its share of exciting finishes and the loss of Coughlin, Onions and Jennings has been to some extent offset by the emergence of Steel at the top of the order and in the last few weeks signs that Clark might be fulfilling his potential. The return of Will Smith, who has been kept out of the Hampshire side by Kolpaks, has amongst a small number of members I have canvassed received a lukewarm reception.

My season is not quite over but a weekend away rules out my attendance at Arthington until Saturday week at the earliest so my next posting will probably be an appropriate time to sum up my season's watching.

Dashing off to Teesdale, will caption this photo on return.

Eyes on Taunton

posted by John Winn

Listeners to Five Live Sports Extra can today follow events at Taunton where Middlesex, needing to score 250 to ensure safety , have already lost two wickets this morning.This on a pitch where of the thirteen wickets that fell yesterday, twelve were to spin and the other a run out. Wayne Noon, cricket liaison officer for this match, remember when we had pitch inspectors, made no comment last night but is expected to make some announcement at stumps today.

In the meantime I recommend you to go to cricinfo and read an excellent report on yesterday's play by George Dobell.

Those of our readers who know their Onions will be aware that he has failed to agree terms with Durham and consequently the current match at New Road will be his last for the  county that he has served since 2004 and for which just last week became its leading first class wicket taker. It is again tempting to blame the ECB's harsh punishment handed out to Durham a year ago for this departure but given that Onions is 35 and has a history of severe back problems one wonders if he would have been given the two year contract he desires even had the coffers been full.The rumour last week was that he was going to Kent, this morning's Guardian says it is Lancs. In the meantime, that phrase again, Lancs have announced the signing of Keaton Jennings on a four year contract, on recent form that must be for his bowling. This is the same Jennings who all along had been going to Notts providing they were promoted which as yet they are not. Keats' exit can be laid at Harrison's door for the contract Jennings signed a year ago had a get out clause allowing him to leave if Durham failed to win promotion this year, which given they started minus 48 was very very unlikely. And so it has proved and only Leicester have saved them from the wooden spoon which the Prince Bishops last held in 2004 when they wrenched it from Derbyshire's grasp.

Finally I note with mixed feelings that Onions has struck at New Road to remove Clarke, ct Collingwood bowled Onions, perhaps the last time that mode of dismissal will appear in Durham's records.

Thornes lose their title due to penalty runs.

Posted by Tony Hutton

The semi-finals and final of the four Yorkshire Premier Leagues Championship have had a difficult time with games called off due to bad weather and re-arranged at different venues, with different start times. It all came right in the end and despite two rather one sided semi-finals yesterday at Scarborough and Headingley, today's final at the Yorkshire headquarters produced a stunning finale to the season.

This competition was first played last season when the final was controversially played in Abu Dhabi of all places. Fortunately common sense has prevailed this time and the final was played where it should always be - at Headingley. The surprise champions of last year Wakefield Thornes, from the Yorkshire Premier League south, again eased their way into the final by beating Great Ayton from the North Yorkshire and South Durham league very easily at Scarborough yesterday. Their opponents today, rather to some surprise were the Bradford League's Hanging Heaton who disposed of Yorkshire League north champions, York CC, with a comfortable 122 run victory.

Today's final was a much closer affair going right to the last ball. Hanging Heaton are the new champions by the narrow margin of three runs and Wakefield Thornes only had themselves to blame as their abysmally slow over rate ended with them conceding five penalty runs despite a very generous addition of time to the allotted three hours ten minutes by the umpires.

Hanging Heaton - new Yorkshire premier champions

The over rate was painfully slow during the first half of the innings with only twenty five overs bowled in the first two hours. Things did improve with the introduction of the spinners but surely it is possible to bowl fifty overs in three hours ten minutes. This whole problem of course applies at all levels of the game and is a real blight on proceedings.

That having been said the Wakefield bowlers were all very accurate and restricted Hanging Heaton's batsman considerably after yesterday's 312 against York. Opening bowler Rasool struck the first vital blow having Heaton's star man Gary Fellows caught behind for just one and continuing to finish with 2-34 from ten overs. Spinner Isanka was also very tidy and produced figures of 4-53 from thirteen overs. The main man for Heaton, as yesterday, was Callum Geldart, another former Yorkshire player like Fellows. He made 90 not out yesterday and today again top scored with 85 before sweeping once too often to be brilliantly caught by Morgan on the deep square leg boundary.

Geldart sweeps to leg and is caught on the boundary.

Morgan, a slow left armer, was the only bowler to take much punishment towards the end and his eleven overs brought figures of 2-73. Overall though Wakefield's bowlers had restricted Hanging Heaton's powerful batting line up and an all out total of 231 did not seem too onerous. The general feeling seemed to be that this game, unlike both semi-finals yesterday, would produce a close finish.
How right that was.

Celebrity spectator at Headingley.

Jared Warner, the current Yorkshire player, returning to his former club had produced a very accurate spell with the ball and now opened the innings for Thornes. His partner Wolfenden was into his stride first and they put on 49 in eleven overs before Wolfenden was bowled by David Stiff, yet another former Yorkshire and Somerset player. Enter David Toft, by far Thornes' star batsman, a century maker in the final last year as he was yesterday at Scarborough. Today was not his day as he was brilliantly run out by bowler Rameez at the non-striker's end for just 20. This was perhaps the crucial turning point and the scoring rate began to slow.

Warner batting for Thornes.

Thornes still well in the game half way through their innings.

Warner kept his end up well, but boundaries were not coming and left arm spinner Rameez tied up one end with fifteen overs bringing him 3-47. Probably a match winning performance particularly when he dismissed Warner for a patient 68. It was still anybody's game at this stage and it was not until the final few overs when Isanka, who was capable of quick runs, went down the pitch and was smartly stumped by Imran Dawood off Rameez, that things began to fall apart. Fourteen were required from the final over, which despite a four off the last ball, proved too much and Hanging Heaton were champions by a margin of just three runs.

Not many spectators to be seen at Headingley.

A shame such a great finish was watched by a very small crowd which turned out for what proved to be such a tight contest and great advert for premier league cricket in Yorkshire. No doubt this competition will be equally competitive next season and perhaps it is time we saw a side from the North Yorkshire and South Durham League in the final. Rumour has it that Gary Pratt's Richmondshire side, who narrowly missed out this season, may have a valuable reinforcement in the pipe line.

Yorkshire scrape home

Posted by Tony Hutton

Yorkshire's last home match of the season brought a nail biting finish at Headingley in a game which showed how little there is between all the teams in the championship first division. Essex showed they are worthy champions, not only by beating Yorkshire so easily at Scarborough but today managing to turn round their game with Hampshire to produce another notable victory. The performance of already relegated Warwickshire showed some remarkable contributions, notably from New Zealander Jeetan Patel whose century and six wickets in the second innings showed what an excellent overseas player he has been. Sadly Yorkshire's army of  'here today, gone tomorrow' foreign contingent, including their latest short term import, contributed little to the overall picture.

However this was a game to savour with the twists and turns which only a four day game can provide for the cricket connoisseur. Warwickshire under new captain Jonathon Trott won the toss and decided to bat on Tuesday. A decision which surprised many, particularly when they had slumped to 49-6, thanks to some useful bowling by Yorkshire's all seam attack. Ian Bell played as only he can, a backs to the wall player if there ever was one. His workmanlike fifty set the scene for Patel, coming in at number eight, to play his shots from the word go and he cruised to an admirable century in just 112 balls with seventeen fours.

A last look at the Rugby Stand before demolition.

Matthew Fisher returned after two wickets in his first spell and dismissed Patel lbw as soon as he reached his century then finished off the tail, including the other Ryan Sidebottom (an Australian version) to complete best bowling figures of 5-56. A good reward for his rather belated re-call to the first eleven after a difficult season for him.

We missed most of the Yorkshire first innings on day two deciding instead to enjoy the sunshine at Riverside and some good batting from Durham against a rather new look Sussex bowling attack as already described by John. I agree entirely with both John and Sir Ian Botham (another first for me) in their comments on the departure of Coughlin to Notts, yet another team which seems unwilling to encourage their own youngsters.

Back at Headingley for day three with a smallish crowd present due in no small part to the weather forecast which had predicted rain for most of the day. We took our chance expecting only a short period of play and were rewarded with a full day and no rain whatsoever. This time the bowling hero was the dependable Steve Patterson. He managed to dismiss Bell cheaply and eventually Trott for 59 when he looked capable of a really big innings. He followed this with the wickets of Lamb and Patel to finish with typically economical figures of 26-7-46-4. Warwickshire all out for 251 leaving Yorkshire with what seemed like an easy enough target of 175 to win.

Not so, after an early wicket for Sidebottom number two, enter Jeetan Patel yet again. Yorkshire's bowling attack with five seamers and no spinner provided little variety and Patel was soon in action with the ball dismissing first Lees and then the West Indian Brathwaite with the last ball of the day.
Close of play at 56-3 and Yorkshire in dire trouble, still facing the possibility of relegation with just one more match to play next week away to champions Essex.

An expectant fourth day crowd turned up to enjoy the sunshine hoping that skipper Gary Ballance would play another fine innings, of which there have been many this season, to seal a home victory.
It was not to be as he went lbw to Patel for 21 and Yorkshire were 71-4 soon to be 86-5 when Leaning after playing his first aggresive shot against the spinner was brilliantly caught by Ian Bell at short leg. Bresnan tried to hit Patel but only skied him to Thomson at deep mid wicket and Bresnan plodded off with yet another duck to this season's collection.

The crowd were very quiet now, aware that defeat was staring Yorkshire in the face, and it got quieter still when Hodd, who had just begun to play a few shots after a very quiet start, was out to a fine low slip catch by that man again Patel. 96-7 now and the game looked all over, indeed one or two long standing members were seen to leave the ground in disgust. Enter Mr Reliable, Steve Patterson, to join the youthful Matthew Fisher, no mug with the bat himself.

Patterson watchful in defence.

Patel wheeled away at the pavilion end, bowling maiden after maiden with now five wickets to his name and everyone feeling he might end up with eight. The pace bowlers were alternated at the soon to be demolished rugby stand end. Patterson decided to up the tempo, mainly off the pace men, while just keeping Patel at bay. Fisher too played his part looking confident in his more defensive role.
Gradually the runs ticked away, Patterson hit some splendid shots through to the off side boundary and suddenly the crowd responded to this remarkable change in fortune.

Almost there - fifty partnership.

They pair received a standing ovation at the lunch interval with a fifty partnership under their belts and after the interval with the sunshine replaced by cloud cover it was downhill all the way for the Yorkshire pair. Patel, who bowled unchanged to the bitter end somehow seemed to lose his accuracy and bowled two wide balls down the leg side, one went for four byes, the other for four leg byes. How the crowd roared now! Soon the scores were level, but more drama to come as Fisher was finally out caught by Bell at short leg for fifteen runs, but more importantly he had batted out for 98 minutes.

Fisher out - caught at short leg. Scores level.

Patterson soon ended the game with a four taking him to an admirable 44 not out, making top score just above extras with 40. Patel who had toiled away manfully ended with figures of 28-17-50-6.
Together with his century this should have made him man of the match without question but for the Yorkshire fans there was only one man of the match - Steven Patterson, who received a tremendous ovation as he left the field. Yorkshire won by two wickets and make rapid progress up the championship table, although all still to play for next week.

Steve Patterson acknowledges his standing ovation.

The celebrations continued with the real Ryan Sidebottom, injured for this game, appearing on the field at Headingley for the last time to be greeted by all his team mates and the ecstatic supporters. A marvellous ending not only to the game itself but to a wonderful career by one of the all time greats of Yorkshire cricket.

Ryan Sidebottom says his farewells.

Coughlin latest to leave The Riverside

posted by John Winn

Even before I passed through the turnstiles at The Riverside yesterday the talk was of Tuesday's announcement that Paul Coughlin was the latest to take the gravy train,  this time bound for Trent Bridge. Coming a year after the departure of Stoneman and Borthwick to Surrey, exits that filled me with dismay but which I came to terms with on the grounds that they were long servants of Durham CCC and most supporters wished them good luck, if with a side portion of grudge. For Stoneman it has been a successful move, plenty of runs for his new county and a long delayed test cap. For Borthwick less so. After a good beginning with the bat his stock has deteriorated to the extent that he was not named in the squad for last week's game, he has scored just over 400 runs and taken just three wickets at a cost of close to 100,

Amongst the people I spoke to you yesterday feelings run much stronger than in the Borthwick and Stoneman case and much of people's ire is directed towards the player. Chairman Sir Ian Botham in a statement released on Tuesday described Coughlin as someone the county has 'nurtured through the academy system' and who had been offered 'a very competitive contract extension, our devoted support through periods of injury*, continuous development and leadership opportunities'. Yet such a player can walk away from his native county to Notts, the Surrey of the East Midlands without Durham receiving a penny in recompense. And the vultures are not done yet for Jennings, who averages a little over ten since he was dropped by England, will almost certainly join Coughlin at Trent Bridge as soon as Notts promotion is confirmed.

Further remarks from Sir Ian have brought Andrew Strauss into the ring in defence of those England selectors who are also directors of cricket for their counties and the affair has also opened up discussion on the feasibility of a transfer system for county cricket. Amongst those expressing early support were Middlesex, Surrey(sic) and Gloucestershire. I would not favour an open market transfer system of the type found in football but a scheme of compensation administered by an independent panel might be feasible.

As for yesterday's cricket Latham, what a splendid overseas player he has been, and Steel, the find of the season, put together a partnership of 165, then both got out in similar fashion, pulling to long leg and Collingwood and Richardson followed in short order but Clark and Carse steadied the ship to leave Durham just 25 behind at the close. With Northants in a reasonable position against Notts, Kent totally frustrated by a wet outfield at Chesterfield, Sussex will be hoping they can do the double over Durham. As I type, 2:30 Thursday, the threatened rain has not reached The Riverside and Sussex will want to press on as fast as possible as long as it holds off. A decent forecast for tomorrow suggests the last day of the season at Chester le Street might be well worth attending.

* Coughlin had a long term back injury in 2015 and has missed five championship matches this season, next week when he is not available for selection will make six.

Ouseburn beat the weather to retain their title

posted by John Winn

A rainbow over West Tanfield

On Saturday, a day of heavy but isolated showers, I drove to West Tanfield, between Ripon and Masham, where Ouseburn were the visitors and for whom victory would ensure they retained the Nidderdale First Division Championship.  

Ouseburn won the toss and fielded, an easy decision given the threatening clouds, and wickets fell at regular intervals with only Sam Abel offering serious resistance. During his innings Sam passed 500 runs for the season and when the last wicket fell at 118 he was undefeated on 65. Towards the end of the innings a heavy shower drove me to my car but the players remained on the field. Further heavy rain came shortly into the Ouseburn reply and held up play for about half an hour and sawdust was liberally applied before the Ouseburn innings could resume. Chasing a modest total a good first innings partnership by Peter Carr and Chris Morrison calmed the nerves and 97 were on the board before Carr was out. There were to be no more alarms until the scores were level at which point Morrison, going for his fourth six, skied one to mid off but with all rounder Jamie Bryant, over 500 runs and 45 wickets in the season, hitting the winning run, the title was retained. 

Credit is due to the umpires and West Tanfield's players for sticking it out in the soggy conditions. During the course of the evening news came through that Masham's match at Birstwith had been abandoned thus leaving them seven points behind Ouseburn in the final table. Birstwith a further five points away can consider themselves unlucky as they have suffered four 'wash outs', more than any other club in the division. 

Yesterday the finals of the two national ko competitions were held. At Lord's holders Sessay lost by seven wickets to Reed and at Chelmsford Wanstead and Snaresbrook beat Ormskirk in the National Club Championship by 12 runs. The Essex club were all out for 159 but four wickets for 19 year old  Jack Lord saw Ormskirk fall short. A good weekend for cricket in Essex. 

Eight championship matches begin tomorrow and with Essex crowned champions on Friday attention in the first division turns to who will join Warwickshire in Division Two next year. The Bears visit Headingley where Yorkshire, who have not won  any of their last six matches, lie fifth but only one point above Somerset and Middlesex. Middlesex are at home to Lancashire and Somerset are at The Oval where if last week is anything to go by they will find it hard to get more than a draw. For Yorkshire Sidebottom faces a fitness test, how sad it would be were he to be denied his swan song at hq, and one presumes Father Lyth will return with Brathwaite as his partner. 

In Division Two it is stretching it a bit to think that one of  Northants, Kent or Sussex can squeeze into the top two . Northants entertain Notts while Kent are at Queen's Park, a switch from Derby, and Sussex will be at The Riverside. Temperatures as high as eighteen are forecast for Chester le Street in the next few days. Whether that is Celsius or Fahrenheit is not known. 

The last round up for league cricket

Posted by Tony Hutton

The cricket season seems to be going out with something of a whimper rather than a bang.
Many of the local leagues finished their programmes on Saturday 9th September, but a surprising number from the lower echelons were still involved a week later. Our original plans were thwarted by the wet weather which put the lid on the premier leagues semi-final between York and Hanging Heaton in Scarborough. However our few days on the Yorkshire coast were not in vain being able to see the last four concerts of the admirable Scarborough Spa orchestra before they shut up shop for the winter.

On returning to Leeds early on Saturday afternoon the sun was shining and we managed to find an abundance of fixtures in a variety of leagues all within a short distance from home. First stop Crag Lane, Alwoodley where the sports complex adjacent to Adel Woods had not only an Aire Wharfe third division game between Alwoodley and New Rover, but an Old Leos seconds v South Milford seconds in division four of the Wetherby League as well as an Old Leos rugby union match going on.

Alwoodley, perennial strugglers in recent seasons, finished bottom of their league and will presumably have to apply for re-election. Today however they managed to finish with a win, only their third of the season, against local rivals New Rover who continue to have problems without a junior set up. Nice to see our friend Harold Todd still umpiring and keeping an avuncular eye on proceedings.

The rural surroundings of Alwoodley cricket club.

Just next door some very young cricketers were both batting and bowling for Old Leos and South Milford second teams. South Milford ended the season as Division four champions. Plenty of enthusiasm here on a ground where I played my very last game of cricket some thirty years ago. I still remember hanging on to a very fierce caught and bowled to the amazement of my team mates!

Old Leodensians ground.

We drove past the Adel ground, where their second team were in action. No room to stop because of a huge crowd watching the adjoining soccer match. Not a car parking space to be had anywhere in the vicinity! So up the road to Bramhope where Headingley Bramhope were playing their last match before relegation from Division one of the Wetherby League. They have had a spectacular rise through the divisions of this league in recent years, when they were based at Glen Road, Headingley.
Sadly the tide now seems to have turned and they are bottom of the league by a substantial margin. A brief rain shower sent the players from the field on this hill top ground, so off we went again down into the valley bottom.

Here at Pool in Wharfedale it was still dry and the game in progress between Pool and visitors Ilkley.
I seem to remember Ilkley doing well in the first half of the season,but they too seem to have come unstuck and both sides are in the lower half of Aire Wharfe division one. A close encounter this one as Ilkley were bowled out for 107 and the home side were in sight of victory when we arrived. The fall of two quick wickets turned the tables and despite some late resistance the home side were all out for 98 finishing just nine runs short. Slow left armer Nick Cockcroft the match winner with 6-24.

Pool in Wharfedale.

The door about to close on the 2017 league season.

There was just time to make one further call a short distance down the road where Arthington were celebrating both teams having gained promotion this season all be it in the lower reaches of the Nidderdale League, but no worse for that. The first team who are promoted from Division five were entertaining Bishop Thornton 2nds and cruising to yet another victory by eight wickets. This was their sixteenth victory of the season.

A large part of their success has been the prolific form of a newcomer this season Naveed Andrabi, who before today's game had scored no less than 1,316 runs, including five centuries, with a highest score of 166 not out against Pateley Bridge, where he also took 7-15. He is also the leading wicket taker with 44.

Another star performer was Lawrence Barraclough who made the club's highest ever score of 235 back in June against Crakehall, in a record total of 410-3 in 45 overs!

The second team who gained promotion from Division eight had a record of a very different kind. No less than nine of their fifteen victories were due to the opposition conceeding due to failures to field a team. Sadly a growing trend where second and third elevens are concerned. However promoted they are and congratulations to everyone at this pleasant club who continue to play their festival matches until mid October.

Arthington cricket club.

Just to confirm the plans for the two premier league semi-finals which were both involved in endless changes due to the weather this weekend. They are both now to be played next Saturday 23rd September. Great Ayton will play Wakefield Thornes at Scarborough at 10.30 and York will play Hanging Heaton at Headingley, also at 10.30.

The final will then be played at Headingley the following day, Sunday 24th September, also with a 10.30 start. All games of fifty overs duration.